UK Surf Rowing League Summer Series 2008
Crews were greeted with a 3 – 4ft choppy swell and an onshore wind and as one sweep said with a smile, ‘this could be anybody’s race today’. So it proved with race favourites Porthtowan Blue Bali being beaten into second place in the first two rounds, the alarm bells began ringing, only to have normal service resume in heat 5 and in the ‘golden point’ final.
The UKSRL Summer Series is all about crew consistency at every event, then the surf throws up the unknown dynamic that we all love and the underdogs get an opportunity to cause upsets. The Saunton Fisherman had a blinder at Watergate Bay finishing 2nd overall in the days pointscore with 31 points. The Portreath Wreckers also had a good day and have now moved into 2nd place after three events closely followed by The Desperados and The Barracudas. Ed Boyns sweeping the Molesey Marauders crew had a big smile on his face after one race as his crew came to terms with the rough water, only to have his sprinter ‘face plant’ into the sand on his sprint to the flag.
In the women’s Summer Series it’s nip and tuck between rivals The Bude Runners and The Perranporth Rebel Angels. Neither crew are prepared to relinquish the lead. Although, all credit to the Portreath Piranhas who scored the ‘wave from heaven’ to surf all the way back to the beach and win their 3rd heat in impressive style. In the women’s golden point final all crews were neck and neck to the turn, only for the Rebel Angels to suddenly face a breaking wave approaching their turning bouy! Luck played a big part on the return leg with three crews vying for the finish line and the Angels bow woman Anita Adams just out sprinting the opposition.
Results to download here.
Three Sweeps entered the novice sweep event, the last race of the evening, with Anita Adams steering her crew to victory ahead of Stevo from Portreath and Braden Collins from Perranporth.
Round 4 of the UKSRL Summer Series is on August 23rd at Perranporth.
Focus now turns to the UKSRL UK Open Surfboat Championships on Saturday 26th July at Saunton Sands. This one day event consists of three rounds of racing followed by elimination racing in the quarter and semi-finals. Now that Royal Henley is over, the gun river crews are looking for something to do and rumour has it, London Rowing Club is fielding three crews for the Championships.
To help you enter the UK Open Surfboat Championships, Peter Gaisford, Secretary of the UKSRL, suggests river rowers use the point of contact below for your crew entry, as they can advise you about what you are letting yourself in for!
Download the entry form www.uksrl.co.uk on the home page.
Marlow RC: Stuart Logan
Molesey BC: Ed Boyns
Twickenham RC: Richard Meadmore
Nottingham RC: Roland Evans
City of Bristol RC: Martin Downey
London RC: Steven O’Connor
Leander RC: Doug Davidson
Cambridge CATT: Adam Burns
Peter Gaisford
Secretary UKSRL
